Things I am thankful for

Thanksgiving list for today! 

1. My valiant ever resourceful husband found TP on amazon, ordered it for us as a gift so that it was put in a second box and thus not screaming 'I am TP' and it was successfully delivered. Our last box we ordered went 'missing' on the truck before it was even delivered... it had not been boxed over and screamed TP.... 

2. Online streaming of services is a real blessing in this time of needing to stay home. 

3. The Lazarus Saturday liturgy at Holy Transfiguration Monastery included the tonsuring of a new nun and we got to watch! that was super special and made the day one of extra rejoicing! 

4. I conquered Mount Laundry once again. 

5. Dishwasher is washing dishes and my dry is drying towels. 

6. My kitchen counters are clean. 

7. Vinegar and baking soda for a fry pan (a metal one) that has bits stuck on + boiling water. I covered it with the lid and it is like it has it's own special cleansing steam bath :) I think it will work well. I love how inexpensive things can be good and non-toxic cleaners :) 

8. My beloved had a sudden allergy flare-up and I found Benadryl at my new local corner store (which has thick clear plastic shower curtains surrounding the till area!) and he is feeling much better. I always feel like I am succeeding as a wife if I can get what my Husband needs when he needs it. This is also why I love my pantry well stocked so I have what is needed. Except I did not know we were out of Benadryl. But now we have a whole box and are good.   (And I bought a loaf of bread

as I need things to be super easy for how busy Holy Week will be!)

9. Tomorrow for much of the world is Easter Sunday (our Easter/Pascha is next Sunday) and the BEST news of all is that Christ Is Risen!!! 

Various Points Along the Way

Pictures from the last few days.

I got the perfect basket for all my things

(books, movies, art supplies, stationary, chocolate!, knitting)

to do while I am on bed rest with a cast for 6 weeks....

we are hoping that when I get the boot that it means

I can begin walking, but the doctor did say 3 months,

so that may be some uneducated wishful thinking at this point.

*** 

About the 'troublemaker' snickers picture...It's a 

funny thing from the other day...

So.... when I broke my ankle, I was fasting for Holy Communion 

(i.e. I had nothing to eat or drink). 

So by the time I was at urgent care, I was super shaky feeling. I told my Husband I needed chocolate and he got me some. 

It helped, but then I knew I needed something with more substance and quick.

So I asked for a Snickers Bar. It helped. 

I asked Mr Husband to buy me another, he did and it got me through the wedding and reception (before we had food). 

So I kinda ordered a box of 48 of them. !!! From Amazon. 

The outside of the box got goo on it so Mr Husband 

transferred them to the shipping box, showed me the box, 

picked out the bar you see here and told me (in jest) that is what I am: trouble! 😉 

the ludicrous amount of them in the box made me laugh! 😂😄

***

I got some more fun cards,

wrote some letters with my pretty 

rummage sale find stationary from a few years ago,

***

This morning I was awake early and I could tell Mr Husband

was really tired... I am getting more confident of myself

on my fietsje (Dutch word for 'little bike", that a dear

social media friend suggested I name my knee scooter when I put out

a call for name ideas)... anyway, I got up this morning

by myself and made myself breakfast

(granola and yogurt) and sat on my white arm chair with 

my leg on the knee part of fietsje! 

Cleo hung out with me and I gave her part of the top of the

yogurt foil seal to lick off, so she was happy too.

***

I still need to have my foot elevated a lot for healing,

my orthopedic doctor said I need total bed rest,

with my food elevated above my heart,

so I have a lot of pillows in use!

***

I watched a really sweet movie the other day,

lent to me by my quilting friend,

and I am still thinking of it

and how it showed so many good and fine 

things and such beauty in a tale

of two children being helped while

their Mother is sick in the hospital. 

It's a very noble beautiful film.

***

The painting I did, as simple as it is, is of a beautiful big

tree with a swing and a boy swinging.

I made it for the Munchkin and hope we get to mail it soon!

***

About the picture of stationary and the table it is on,

that I wrote about the other day on social media: 

This stationary set was one of my VNA finds from years ago! I am slowly using it up! The backs of the envelopes all sealed shut, so I have to open them by hand but the paper is great and it's cute,so I call it a win! Also, this table is the best! Tilts for writing, reading and computer work but goes upright for eating and painting! ♡

***

I am feeling really blessed with this table and my basket next to me.

I know things could be so much worse.

***

I am hoping to find help very soon,

I have some good leads but nothing conclusive yet.

Praying about this very much.

***

And I am trying to pray for others too,

as they are praying for me...

A beautiful Bridal Shower, the Holy Fire and thanksgiving

Busy days to catch you up on!

I went to a beautiful bridal shower this past Sunday.

It was just love lovely and I just loved seeing the beautiful

gifts the Bride-to-be chose for her new home

and was given by those who love her!

I still get so excited about these events, even more

since I had them myself 5 years ago!

***

The Holy Fire came to the States this year

and I and many others in NJ have it burning in our homes.

Such an unexpected blessing!

***

I am still loving Cleo and loving our library.

Cleo's lost a bit of weight lately, so hoping she is OK.

She's 14, nearing 15 now.

***

Even though we have a lot of struggles in this life,

I am finding that there is still so much to take joy in

and be thankful for; and if one does these things,

then days still have gladness even 

when things are not fully smooth sailing.

***

I love the stories of how Christ calms the water 

different times in the Gospel;

He knew all things and in the storm, there was He 

sleeping.  I must work on remembering this,

and seeing things with the peace that Christ had

and offers to us.

***

Christ is Risen!

Truly He is Risen!

Monday: all that is bright is brittle; yet the light of Christ is eternal and illumines all

I must remember this day,

how beautiful it was, with good soup,

my Grandma's date bread with butter, good hot tea, 

lamb dish leftovers, so good,

a Walton's episode,

some knitting done,

the simple joys and happiness that we had...

Already my husband was having a lot of sniffles and 

the like, but we were still hoping it was not really what it

seemed to maybe be: a head cold...

***

I had a lot of fun discussing on social media a recipe for

a lovely pie I still hope I can make for this Sunday's dessert,

for our shared house-blessing meal. 

The consensus is to do was I was thinking:

add cinnamon, vanilla possibly and consider cloves, possible nutmeg.

I look forward to more pondering of this

apple cranberry pie....

***

I am reminded of Pascha and how the light of Christ

is eternal...

I was given a quote which I found in fuller form tonight,

it encouraged me greatly.

Here is is -- but St. Macarius the Great: 

"Grace is constantly present, and is rooted in us, and worked into us like leaven, from our earliest years, until the thing thus present becomes fixed in a man like a natural endowment, as if it were one substance with him. But, for the man’s own good, it manages him in many different ways, after its own pleasure. Sometimes the fire flames out and kindles more vehemently; at other times more gently and mildly. The light that it gives kindles up at times and shines with unusual brightness; at others it abates and burns low. The lamp is always burning and shining, but when it is specially trimmed, it kindles up with intoxication of the love of God; and then again by God’s dispensation it gives in, and though the light is always there, it is comparatively dull."

from here